CaoXueqin(circa1715–1763)wasaChinesenovelistandpoetduringtheQingDynasty.Heisbestknownastheauthorof*DreamoftheRedChamber*(alsoknownas*TheStoryoftheStone*),oneofChina'sFourGreatClassicalNovels.Bornintoanaffluentfamilythatlaterfellintopoverty,Caodrewfromhispersonalexperiencestocreatethismasterpiece,whichexploresthemesoflove,family,andsocietaldecline.Thenoveliscelebratedforitsintricateplot,richcharacterdevelopment,andvividportrayalof18th-centuryChinesearistocracy.Despitefinancialstrugglesinhislateryears,Cao'sworkhasleftanenduringlegacyinChineseliterature.Hisexactbirthanddeathdatesremainuncertainduetolimitedhistoricalrecords.
